Final value fee promotions: not always applied, and do they expire?

[gorn-fishin]

I'm a very casual seller who normally only lists a few things after I receive a final value fee promotion offer.  Over the summer I received several - a couple were for 25% off first five "collectibles" (listed in that category) listed, and then I got a couple more of 50% off of first five items selling for at least $50, as long as I included best offer.  All were activated and I listed within the offer time frame and satisfied all conditions.

All my items were BIN with best offers, "good til cancelled".

Most of the items that I sold received the promo.  A couple, inexplicably, did not, even though they were listed and fit the same criteria as those that did.

On my recent October invoice, I sold four items that were originally listed in July and August.  All of them were listed with the aforementioned final value fee promotions, but none of them received the promotion.

Ignoring the earlier couple sales that didn't receive the promotions even though they sold in a timely manner, why did these last four sales not receive the promotion?  Does the promotional period expire after a time, even though the fixed price auction is "good til cancelled"?

Thanks for the help..

[gorn-fishin]

Sorry for the double post, I don't see a way for me to delete the other one.

[gorn-fishin]

*BUMP*

[goodluckselling]

All promotions expire.  That is why they are called promotions.  eBay promotions give details about the time frame.  Just because you listed as GTC does not mean you still get the promotion discount after the expiration date. 

If your transaction met all the details perfectly which include before the promotion expires you would have gotten the discounts.

Good Luck Selling!

[gorn-fishin]

The offers never make any mention of how long the promotional period lasts; they only specify the short time period in which to activate the offer. There is no mention of expiration, but we're just supposed to assume it? Is the duration 30 days? 60 days? Why not just tell us?

[myjunqueyourtreasure · Accepted solution]

Any FVF promotions expire when the initial duration of the listing does. GTC only gives you a duration of an intiial 30 days - the only difference between GTC and 30 day FP is that GTC automatically renews when iit ends.

[gorn-fishin]

Thanks.. the initial 30 days makes sense, but I'm seeing aberrations. For eg, I listed an item on 7/24, and it sold on 8/27 with promo given. I listed an item on 8/25, and it sold on 9/24 with NO promo given.

Confusing. But from now on I'll assume the 30 days.. thanks again for the help!

[hillcountrytrade]

I am also a casual seller and I have experienced the same thing consistently for the last couple of years. The promotion terms look like this:

Invited sellers (“Sellers”) who activate the offer, and pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth herein, list in the auction-style, auction-style with the Buy It Now feature added, or fixed price formats (including Good ‘Til Cancelled listings), with any listing duration, during the Promotion Period, will receive a 50% discount on final value fees (collectively referred to as "Promotion") for the first 10 items that are sold.

This is very misleading. What eBay should have stated is 'for the first 10 items that are sold within the first 30 days'. I have given my feedback to the customer services multiple times, but nothing has been changed. eBay used to send promotions with 2 expiration dates, list by and sell by, but it seems that all the late promotions didn't include 'sell by' expiration date - misleading sellers to believe the discount applies for 'any listing duration' so they won't end their listings at the 30th day.